พระนามเจ้านายสมัยรัตนโกสินทร์ : การศึกษาความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างภาษากับวัฒนธรรมไทย / ดนัย พลอยพลาย = Names of royalty in the Rattanakosin Period : a study of the relationship between Thai language and culture / Danai Ployplai
Names of royalty in the Rattanakosin Period have remarkable features which are distinct from those of commoners and are interrelated to Thai socio-cultural contexts. This study examines 1,932 official names of royalty in the Rattanakosin Period, by focusing on two aspects: 1) linguistic devices adopted in naming practices; and 2) thoughts, beliefs, values, and development of naming practice as reflected from the names. As for the characteristics of names of royalty, first, names of royalty can be categorized into two types. The first one is names originally given to the royalty at birth and the other one is those conferred in an occasion of ranking promotion. Second, names of royalty consist of two components: names and subnames, which are an extra component given to those of higher and distinguished ranks. Third, there are four supplementary elements to be used together with names of royalty to indicate ranks of nobility, the relationship between the name owners and the king, and the lineage of royalty. Lastly, the crucial factors influencing naming practice include birth ranks, gender, date and time of birth, conferred ranks, seniority, and religious status. In terms of linguistic devices, it is found that four strategies are mainly adopted in naming practice namely lexical choice selection, making reference to other elites’ names and/or city names, using rhymes, and using auspicious alphabet. These devices are adopted in order to indicate the status and characteristics of the royalty, the relationship between each individual and her or his royal family, and gender. Some devices are for the sake of auspiciousness. The analysis of names of royalty reflects six important underlying ideas namely the significance of the monarchy, social stratification, kinship based society, social expectation on gender role, religious beliefs, and distinctive character of the Kingdom. The development of naming practice is interrelated with five remarkable features of Thai socio-cultural context, namely the restoration of Thailand under King Rama I, line of royal succession, the impact of western colonialism, the establishment of political connection between the kings and elites, and the Revolution of 1932
